The Localist
Find your local specialist through the local list!
The Localist's mission is to match travelers who are looking for a unique experience with locals who can show them the hidden gems of their destination.
Rising young startup
Created by students from Maastricht University
We are a team of ambitious international students who started working on this project through the Maastricht University Challenge. We aim to win and use the prize money to develop a working prototype for the app. All of us are eager to continue working on The Localist after the challenge.
Your Profiles
Two options
The Local
As a local, you can create a profile on our app that will allow you to be discovered by travelers in your city. You can create tours based on the things that you love about your city and share your passions with like-minded travelers. Set yourself apart from others by offering unique tours and become the local specialist of your city.Â
As a specialist you decide on the program, the price, and the length of your tours.
The Traveler
As a traveler, you can gain unique insights in the places you are visiting thanks to the locals who bring you to their favorite spots. Through the search function, you will find the local who best matches your interests. Once you find the ideal tour, you can contact the locals through our chat-function to get to know them better. After the tour, you will be able to evaluate the local through reviews and a star-rating system.
FAQs
Do you have questions? We're here to help
What is your pricing model?
We will use a transaction-fee pricing model. Every time a transaction is made via the app, we will receive a small percentage of the total amount. The local will choose their own price and the fee will be applied on top of it. The travelers will be the ones who will be charged.
What is your plan for the future?
After the competition we will begin to develop the first version of the app. This version will be available in Maastricht and new students will be our first travelers and older students will be our first locals. After gaining traction, we will make the app available in more cities and eventually go global!
How do you ensure security on your app?
Locals will have the option to verify their identity through email, phone number, and ID. Travelers will be encouraged to select verified locals. To ensure a higher level of security, in the first stages of the app, we will conduct job-like interviews with locals who want to be verified. In the later stages, this process will be automated through AI.
